The Sun has Set on an Era
After more than 165 years of family ownership, the Waggoner Ranch sold earlier this year. You can read more about the sale here. As the transition has unfolded, we have been saddened to learn about the changes taking place. With any new ownership, some changes are inevitable. However, we hope that the new owners will remember the rich tradition of the Waggoner Ranch and the dedicated service of the cowboys. This place is more than a job, it is their home. For many, it is a home they have shared with their families for generations. It is our hope that their way of life will be able to continue as it has for decades.
As our followers know, the cowboys who ride for the reverse triple D are hardworking and inspiring individuals, men of great skill and integrity. It has been an honor to document their lives and work, and we are proud to donate part of the proceeds from the sale of this book to The Waggoner Ranch Cowboys Fund.
As Jan Batts wrote in Cowboys of the Waggoner Ranch,
“The cowboys of the Waggoner Ranch are living legends, men who embody the attributes of the lean and dusty riders who braved the wild a century ago to make room for a herd. They ride the trails of their forebearers, living a life and practicing skills that have almost disappeared. They ride for the prestigious reversed triple D brand of the largest ranch within one fence in the United States.
It is important to record their lives before they shut the gate behind them the last time. This book is a tribute to those cowboys and a way of life is just a whisper on the wind.”
We hope that their work and way of life will be able to continue for years to come. What have you learned from the cowboys’ story? We’d love to know.